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Hi, I’m just starting back after some health problems took me out of work and stopped any practice I had going until this past week. When I stopped I was at the end of month 3 , so last week and this week are sort of a “tune up” before going on to month 4. So far my ability to concentrate has improved and my distractions have dropped way down. The other practices I’ve picked back up are the micro cosmic orbit, Dragon and Tiger,and Yang style Tai Chi. Mostly, I would like to thank those of you who have been posting to the list regularly, any questions I’ve had have been answered and it has been a big help in my practice. For now, just looking forward continuing on, good to see several of you continuing to make progress.
I just finished writing the summary for Month 9 Part 2, so I will be moving to that part of Month 9. It would be interesting to know how many people are in each section of the Meditation Circle. Has anyone thought of skipping sections in order to catch up to the current month.
Working on month 8&9. Fine tuning activating all of the breathing, raising the diaphragm. 90% of my practice is done standing. Can’t seem to get the same affect sitting but I’m working on that. If we stopped today, which I hope we don’t, I would have received a great gift.
Well, I’m back at it. I took a little break due to travel and being busy. I just started month 6 a few days ago. Yes, I have thought about skipping sections, and it would be nice to be with the group, but somehow it just doesn’t seem right, and I feel that it’s important for me to do these in order. I am hoping to be consistent this winter, I should have the time. And Joan…thank you for posting the monthly outlines!! You have saved me from going back over and over sometimes lengthy instructions to weed out what I’m actually supposed to do. It’s been a huge help!
Thanks Catherine. We are definitely on the same page about the need to know what we are supposed to do. The outlines help me get the ideas in a shortened form that I can use.
I have been struggling with keeping a regular practice due to a number of scheduling issues and having excuses for not making time. I am restarting month 1 again.
I have considered skipping months to catch up but I think in the long run that would be more hinderance than help.
I agree: skipping wouldn’t really work. It’s not really about understanding, which can happen quickly, but about knowing, which just takes time sitting.
Thanks Matthew, it is a constant battle really between wanting to move onto the next thing and really knowing it. I am getting better at not ‘grading’ my progress by how much I have done but just allowing myself the time that it takes to really get what I get.
Oscar, I have fallen off too and reading your comments makes me feel encouraged to start up again, perhaps not at the beginning (I got up to month 5), but maybe back to month 3. Many times I’ve noticed the consequences of not doing the daily practice in the irritations and stress I feel. Commitment to that daily 20-30 minutes is a beneficial, maybe even necessary, retreat. It took getting away from it for me to learn that.
And Matthew, I find your comments so helpful even when I don’t know enough to completely understand them. Thanks for all you contribute.
I’m just getting back to it, too. I got really busy for awhile, in and out of town a few times, and my practice was spotty. It’s nice to be able to get back into it, and be consistent. I really need that consistency to feel the benefits of the practice. I will probably be done with month six in about a week. It’s good to be back!
I just started Part 2 of Month 10. It is an exciting new turn for the meditation as it takes us to the subtle emotions that are often hidden. We are starting Lao Tse Water Tradition which gets beyond what tai chi, bagua, yoga, etc. can provide.
Those of you that are in earlier months, I encourage you to listen to Month 10, Part 2 for where we are heading with this Meditation Circle.
Just thought Id share with everyone where Im at.
It seems as though Ive been struggling to keep a steady practice rhythym since just before Christmas. I went from practicing 5 – 7 30 min sessions per week to 2 or 3 at best.
I practiced tonight after 4 days with no meditation. I went to the ocean for some temporary refuge away from my 2.5 y/o son ( I love the little monkey).
However, the snow and wind required boots and warm clothing (I really miss warm outdoor practice in nature).
Long story short, I feel like since about month 7 I hit a brick wall in my practice and “feel” as though there has been very little progression.
There are times that I think that Im feeling my liver and spleen when I breathe but can’t say for sure. I feel like I could spend much longer on this month before “getting it”.
I just feel like crap that when I dont practice meditation or chi gung for longer than a day and I know that to get anywhere with it regular practice is pretty important.Can anyone relate or have any advice?
Kevin, I’d be surprised if there was anyone on here that didn’t relate. The hardest part, especially when we have seen some progression in our practice, is accepting the plateaus. I’ve not only had a lot of plateaus over the years, but even some periods where I’ve felt I’ve gone backwards! It’s normal, of course, and I think we all know that and tell each other that, but it’s still often hard to really accept. It’s easy to tell yourself or others that you shouldn’t have expectations, another thing entirely to truly not have expectations! I think at this point, I have had so many ups and downs that I can ride the waves a little better, and know that when I have a period where nothing seems to be happening, it won’t last forever.
These plateaus and brick walls are very important in their own way, and just the very act of bringing your attention back into your body over and over even when you feel that nothing is happening is what makes it possible to make progress in the future.
As far as when and how long to practice – only you know what will fit into your life and schedule, but one suggestion might be to do a little shorter sessions, and aim to be more regular. Maybe try doing 15 minutes a day, and see if you can bring it back to practicing 5-7 times a week that way. Try to do it with no expectation as to the quality of your meditation, make the goal simply sitting for that amount of time. Then maybe you will find it easier to increase your time a bit.
Sometimes I think there is a direct connection between how much/ how often we meditate, and how we feel our meditation is progressing. When things are going well, it’s easier to have the motivation to find the time to meditate somehow. If we’re discouraged about how our practice is going, we have a harder time getting motivated to practice. I think this can produce a downward cycle.
I hope some of this is helpful. Just trusting in the process, that includes ups and downs, has been helpful for me.
Hi Catharine, Thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. What you say makes sense and I guess I have just been frustrated recently at the fluctuation in my rhythm and lack of time to practice. One thing is Im definetly not lacking in motivation. I feel like Ive just got things going on in my life that are preventing me from practicing as regularly as I have been. No excuses though. Ill keep at it as much as I can and definetly keep your insight in mind.
Many Thanks,
Kevin
I just finished writing the summary for Month 12. This was more difficult since I needed to listen a few times to organize it into something meaningful for me. It isn’t as specific as other months. Bruce seems to go back and forth in his attempt to explain what is happening. But quite exciting that we have been at this process for a year now.
I have kept going on the process even though I am exploring and not experiencing many of the subtle energy blockages.
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